As artists and business owners you're faced with far more "play it safe" decisions each day than "take a risk". Sometimes risks become incredible opportunities for growth and taking your business in new directions - they also help you fine tune your skill set.

by Skip CohenI tweeted a quote yesterday from T. S. Eliot:

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."

It's Sunday morning, a great time to just ponder so many questions about life. Take a minute and just think about that quote. We're an industry of artists and we all have our heroes. I'm not talking about the icons that pack a room at a convention with a standing room only crowd, but our personal favorites. People who have come into our life, motivated us, helped spark an idea and supported us when we fell, helping us to get up and start all over again.

In 2009 I made a decision that a lot of people suggested was a "risk going too far". I gave up a great job as President of WPPI and Rangefinder Magazine and decided to start my own company. I remember having serious second thoughts and my best friend, now my wife Sheila, said to me, "What are you afraid of?" My answer couldn't have come out quicker, "I'm afraid of failing!"

I hate it when I repeat myself in various posts, because I've written about this before, but here's the point. There's no such thing as a sure thing in any business. We all have our hopes and aspirations and if you're lucky enough you've got a good buddy or two in your life to help you through the fog of business, the economy and technology. Like a lighthouse for a sailor, they're beacons that help us stay focused on our passion and protect us from the negativity around us. They help us dream.

This is a business of risk and if you hold back on your potential you'll be looking back the rest of your life wondering what you might have accomplished. That means you have to give your best every day - no compromises on the quest to achieve your goals.

"Why?"

Check out"Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog.It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound byte. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. There were fifty different artists featured in 2016 and we anticipate doubling that in 2017. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.

Authors

Skip Cohen is President of SCU, founder of Marketing Essentials International and past president of Rangefinder Publishing and WPPI. He's been an active participant in the photographic industry since joining Hasselblad USA in 1987 as president. He has co-authored six books on photography and actively supports dozens of projects each year involving photographic education.

Special Guests

SCU is proud to bring you some of the most recognized photographers in the industry. You'll also meet a few not so well known, but with terrific ideas to help you build a stronger business model.

Scott Bourne

Scott Bourne has retired, but as the first Dean of Marketing at SCU, a professional photographer and educator his support was critical to the success and growth of SCU. From time to time you'll see a reference to one of his Marketing Monday posts from the SCU or GoingPro archives.